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France sees mass strikes over living costs
Hundreds of thousands marched across France on Thursday, demanding wage hikes and relief from soaring living costs amid student protests.
Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across France on Thursday in union-led demonstrations under the slogan "Enough is Enough." The mobilization demanded wage increases and measures to curb the rising cost of living. These actions coincided with fresh student protests, according to AFP.
Widespread anger mobilizes police
For weeks, French high school students have protested deteriorating educational conditions and university guidance systems. Parallel demonstrations against inflation and inequality peaked on October 17 with the worst riots France has seen in years. Authorities deployed 70,000 police officers nationwide to manage the unrest.
In Clermont-Ferrand, central France, Sylvie Larnory, a 61-year-old healthcare worker, expressed collective frustration. "We are not starving, but we have to help our children even though they completed their education," she said. In Marseille, the country's second-largest city, social worker Lea, 31, held a sign reading: "Angry mother, living costs too high." She stated that families can no longer afford food, forcing them to buy lower-quality goods while seeking cheaper fuel and products.
Discrepancies in protest numbers
The Interior Ministry’s initial tally at 5 p.m. (4 p.m. GMT) estimated 600,000 participants nationwide, including in Paris. Earlier counts at 1 p.m. recorded 270,000 demonstrators across 180 marches outside the capital. The General Confederation of Labour (CGT) reported more than 250,000 protesters in 73 marches within Paris alone.
Unions representing public and private education, railway workers, hospital staff, and postal services called for strikes. Government figures indicated a teacher strike participation rate of approximately 15.81 percent. Authorities reported that 81 out of 3,700 high schools were "blockaded." Conversely, the High School Students Union claimed classes stopped in 1,000 schools due to protests or administrative decisions.
University disruptions and demands
The Higher Education Ministry noted "disruptions" in 33 percent of its institutions, affecting 60 of 184 facilities. The Student Union, representing French students, asserted that 90 percent of the country’s roughly 70 universities were in a state of "mobilization," involving protests or suspended classes.
Unions are pressing the government and employers to raise the minimum wage, which has remained unchanged since 2012. They also demand general salary increases, tax reforms, and improved educational conditions for students.
Violence and security failures
While student protests remained largely peaceful, some encounters with police involved tear gas and water cannons. An investigation into attempted murder opened after Molotov cocktails were thrown at security forces in Paris on Saturday. Police tactics faced criticism for excessive force, prompting internal investigations.
Several teenage protesters sustained serious injuries, and thousands were arrested. Authorities acknowledged security and intelligence failures contributed to the clashes, allowing widespread looting and property damage during the October 17 events.
Route restrictions spark legal challenges
Paris local authorities denied permits for a major demonstration route between Bastille and Place de la Concorde on Wednesday, citing safety concerns. Unions viewed these restrictions as suppression of freedom of assembly and filed last-minute appeals. Fabrice Four of the CGT observed that public sympathy for student movements remains strong, with citizens questioning liberty constraints.
"This served as a wake-up call for people who do not usually voice their opinions," Four said.
Protests spread across Europe
Similar demonstrations occurred in other European countries recently, including youth protests in Denmark, Germany, and Italy. In Greece, approximately 4,000 people marched in Athens and Thessaloniki on Thursday. Participants carried banners reading: "From Greece to France, we fight for free public education."
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